Sleep refused to come.
Zainab had tried.
She had laid on the bed, closed her eyes, turned from one side to the other but her mind would not rest.
Something felt wrong.
Not just wrong…
Dangerous.
It sat heavy in her chest, like a warning she couldn't ignore.
She stood up and began to pace the room, her bare feet moving restlessly across the cold floor.
The silence in the mansion felt unnatural.
Too still.
Too quiet.
As if the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Zainab stopped and looked around slowly.
Her heart began to beat faster.
"Ibrahim…" she whispered unconsciously.
But he wasn't there.
And that only made it worse.
She sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall, trying to calm herself.
Then she heard a sound,footsteps outside her door. Slow,measured,deliberate .
Zainab stiffened.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The footsteps stopped.
Right in front of her door.
The handle moved.
Slightly.
Carefully.
Someone was trying to open it.
Zainab stood up instantly, her heart slamming hard against her chest.
She didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't breathe.
The door creaked open.
And Safiya stepped in.
She closed the door behind her quietly, the soft click of the lock echoing louder than it should.
Zainab's voice came out shaky.
"What… what are you doing here?"
Safiya smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
Only something cold.
Something cruel.
"I came to check on you," she said softly.
Zainab took a step back instinctively.
"I'm fine."
Safiya tilted her head slightly, studying her.
"You don't look fine."
She began to walk closer.
Slowly.
Confidently.
"You look scared."
Zainab swallowed hard.
"I'm not scared."
A soft laugh escaped Safiya's lips.
"Oh… you are."
She leaned in, her expensive perfume filling the air, suffocating.
"Because you know too much."
Zainab's eyes widened.
"What are you talking about?"
Safiya's smile faded instantly.
Her face turned serious.
Cold.
"Ibrahim thinks you're innocent," she said. "He thinks you're some poor angel sent into his life."
Zainab shook her head quickly.
"I didn't do anything."
Safiya nodded slowly.
"That part is true."
Then she leaned closer.
"But your existence…"
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"is a problem."
Zainab's heart dropped.
"What do you mean?"
Safiya's eyes locked onto hers.
Sharp.
Calculating.
"Because Ibrahim is already looking at you differently."
Zainab shook her head again, panic rising.
"No that's not true."
Safiya chuckled softly.
"Don't lie to yourself."
She stepped closer.
"Men like Ibrahim don't protect girls like you unless something has already begun."
Zainab's body trembled.
Fear crawled up her spine.
Safiya's expression darkened further.
"If his mother dies…"
She paused.
"And she will…"
Zainab's breath hitched.
"Ibrahim will break."
Her lips curved slowly.
And when he breaks
Her voice turned almost dreamy.
I will rebuild him.
A beat.
"And this time I will own him completely
Zainab stared at her in horror.
You're evil
Safiya laughed.
A low, unsettling sound.
"I'm not evil."
Her eyes hardened.
"I'm smart."
Then she reached into her bag.
And pulled something out.
A small glass bottle.
Zainab's heart skipped.
"What is that?"
Safiya lifted it slightly, letting it catch the light.
"Poison."
Everything inside Zainab froze.
Her blood turned cold.
"You're going to drink it," Safiya said calmly.
Zainab stepped back instantly.
"No!"
Safiya moved faster.
Grabbing her.
Zainab turned to run
But Safiya caught her scarf and yanked her back violently.
Zainab screamed as she lost balance and stumbled.
A sharp slap landed across her face.
The sound echoed through the room.
Zainab collapsed to the floor, her cheek burning, tears spilling instantly.
Safiya crouched down and grabbed her hair roughly.
"You think you can take Ibrahim from me?" she hissed.
Zainab cried out.
"I don't want him! I don't even know him!"
Safiya's eyes flared with anger.
"You're lying!"
She raised the bottle again.
Zainab struggled desperately, pushing against her.
Their hands clashed.
The bottle slipped.
It hit the floor.
And shattered.
A sharp, bitter smell filled the air instantly.
Zainab coughed, backing away in panic.
Safiya froze.
Then her face twisted with rage.
"You stupid girl!"
Zainab scrambled backward, her chest tightening as she struggled to breathe.
The smell was choking.
Burning.
Then—
A sound.
Footsteps.
Outside.
Safiya's head snapped toward the door.
Her expression changed instantly.
From rage…
To control.
She stood up quickly, grabbing her bag.
Before leaving, she bent slightly toward Zainab.
Her voice dropped into a cold whisper.
"This is not over."
A pause.
"Not even close."
Then she walked out.
Calm.
Composed.
As if nothing had happened.
The door closed.
Zainab sat on the floor, shaking uncontrollably.
Her cheek throbbed.
Her chest rose and fell unevenly.
Tears streamed down her face as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Trying to feel safe.
But there was no safety left.
Because now…
She understood the truth.
Fully.
Completely.
Safiya wasn't just jealous.
She wasn't just dangerous.
Safiya wanted her dead.